Psychotherapy is usually client-directed. During the “talking” portion, the client often describes events that are causing (triggering) mood swings. The therapist then will help teach the patient strategies to prevent the triggers from having an adverse effect.
Also taught during psychotherapy are the techniques to learn which personality aspects is the person or the disease. Just as children with diabetes are taught how to manage their illness, children with bipolar disorder should be taught about the disorder, specifically how it personally manifests within that individual.
There are many types of therapy that can be used. These include cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and multi-family support groups. Dialectical behavior therapy has recently shown some promise as an effective treatment option.
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